Police vice crimes division Sergeant Steve Bosshard said officers have been generally following the directive since it was originally issued in 1994.

"We've been doing it all along," said Bosshard. "What we really need is for the juvenile detention facility to open back up to full operation. About three-quarters of it is closed down because of lack of funds. No wonder we don't have the room."

Narcotics division Captain Greg Corrales said he originally had reservations about Lau's reissuance of the directive, but that his concerns were met by a meeting with upper level department supervisors.

"It now appears that there will be some kind of compromise on the order," said Corrales. "I think we'll be able to get several additional crimes added to firearms violations that will allow us to book (juveniles)."

Fred Cook, the vice president of the Juvenile Probation Commission and a retired captain of the San Francisco Sheriff's Department, said the policy represents no major changes in policy, noting that most juveniles are released to their parents soon after booking.

"You have to look at the crimes that are involved," said Cook. "Simple possession of crack is one thing, possession with intent to sell is another. A person who sells crack is likely to be a completely different kind of person than one who simply uses it."

The same thing applies to burglary, said Cook.

"Technically, one definition of burglary could be lifting a candy bar in a store -- and those would be the kind that are simply cited," said Cook. "There's no way that an officer is going to cite a juvenile who was found breaking and entering into a home at night."

Cook observed that the downgrading of adult offenses to ease prison overcrowding has been going on for years.

"We're facing the same problem in the juvenile facilities," said Cook. "It's inevitable that the same mechanism would be applied."

"We deal with a lot of kids just like this, nonviolent offenders who would be better handled under community and parental supervision,"said Shorter. "As things stand now, the system is overtaxed."

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